Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rampant commercialism that they recognise has overwhelmed the more popular coastal re-
sorts of their island. Since the opening of the border crossing here in 2010, the resort has
attracted still more visitors, who stop here en route to the North.
The breezy village is dotted along a wide bay running from Kokkina Point to where the
Green Line meets the sea. The border's proximity is emphasised by the frequent chatter of
UN helicopters that fly in and out of the nearby base. You can bathe at a number of loca-
tions along the bay, though the most popular spot seems to be the far eastern end, close to
the Green Line, which is also where the most attractive part of town is, its main street
lined with leafy trees and a couple of traditional coffee houses.
Kato Pyrgos has a sprinkling of bars and tavernas. The best places to eat are down on
the beach at the far eastern end of town, specialising, unsurprisingly, in seafood and open
roughly from Easter to October.
Psokas
From Kato Pyrgos or Pahyammos you can strike out south into the Tylliria hinterland.
Make sure you detour slightly to the lovely forest reserve of
Stavros tis Psokas
, also ac-
cessible from Pafos (51km) via a picturesque road that is unsealed for a considerable dis-
tance. This vast picnic site is a forest station responsible for fire control in the Pafos
Forest. Nature-loving Cypriots come here to walk and enjoy the peace, and it can get quite
crowded in summer. In a small enclosure, signposted from the main parking area, you can
get a glimpse of the rare and endangered native Cypriot mouflon. Move quietly and
slowly if you want to see them, as they get rather skittish at the approach of humans.
You can do some hiking from the Stavros tis Psokas forest station. The
Horteri Trail
, a
5km, three-hour circular hike, loops around the eastern flank of the Stavros Valley. The
trail starts at the Platanoudkia Fountain, about halfway along the forest station's approach
road, which turns off the main through-road at Selladi tou Stavrou (Stavros Saddle). The
hike involves a fair bit of upward climbing and can get tiring in the heat of summer; tackle
the walk early in the day if you can.
The second trail is the
Selladi tou Stavrou
, a 2.5km, 1½-hour circular loop of the
northern flank of the Stavros Valley. The start is prominently marked from Stavros Saddle
(at the junction of the forest station approach road and the main through-road). A longer
option (7km, 2½ hours) is to follow the trail anticlockwise and then branch south to the
heliport. From there you can walk along a forest road to the forest station proper.
The CTO should be able to provide you with more information on these trails. Alternat-
ively, consult
www.visitpafos.org.cy
.
You will need your own car to get here. There's a small camp site at Stavros tis Psokas
with capacity for 60 people.
